Unfortunately, most workers are not eligible to receive unemployment benefits while they are getting temporary disability benefits under workers’ compensation. Florida workers’ compensation law doesn’t allow injured workers to collect unemployment compensation while simultaneously collecting temporary disability or permanent total disability benefits.

The exception occurs when workers who have been injured and then released by their doctors to perform light duty work. These types of workers may also receive unemployment in addition to workers’ comp benefits. Although in this situation both types of compensation can be collected, the disability benefits will be subtracted from the amount due under workers’ compensation. As a result, it’s not much of a “win” because one’s benefits will be reduced for any period of time that unemployment is also being collected.

If a work injury has left an employee with a permanent injury or disability, that worker will need to file for Social Security Disability since he or she will not be able to work again. Workers who need time off work to rest and recoup from an injury may be able to collect unemployment and Temporary Partial Disability benefits.

In order to understand these benefits, it is important to define what these different types of benefits really are.. Workers’ Comp benefits are available to injured workers when their employer carries workers’ compensation coverage. Unemployment benefits provide workers with some money once they lose their job. Additionally, unemployment benefits can be collected if an injured worker tries to return to his job but his employer no longer has work available. In order to receive unemployment benefits in this situation, the worker needs to be physically able and available to work.

Because trying to collect both types of benefits can be complex and each of them has their own rules and guidelines, you might want to speak with an attorney to help you navigate the complexities of benefits’ laws.